In this era of fake news and social media pressures, a group of Lords is calling for digital literacy to stand alongside the three Rs in schools.
The ability to critically understand the internet is vital for youngsters and should complement reading, writing and maths as the “fourth pillar” of education, they said.
The Lords Communications Committee report Growing Up With The Internet said schools must teach online responsibilities, social norms and risk as part of compulsory education.
The Lords demanded intervention “at the highest level of government” and said: “It is no longer sufficient to teach digital skills in specialist computer science classes to only some pupils.”
“We recommend that […] no child should leave school without a well-rounded understanding of the digital world.”